Odometer for railway vehicles



Feb. 23, 1937. P. PASCHEN ET AL I ODOMETER FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES Filed Dec. 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 23, 1937.

P. PASCHEN ET AL ODOMETER FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES I 3 Sheets-$11661, 5

Filed Dec. 6, 1934 Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ODOBIETER FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES Application December 6, 1934, Serial No. 756,263

' In Germany December 11, 1933 3 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in odometers for vehicles.

An object of our invention is to provide an economical odometer simple in design and to be readily mounted in the axle box of vehicles.

" Another object of our invention is to provide an odometer which is protected to a great extent against shocks when in operation, which accurately registers and has a long life.

Another object of our invention is to provide an odometer adapted to be driven from the vehicle axle by the simplest means.

A further object of our invention is to provide an odometer adapted to be also used in roller bearings for high-speed vehicles, in which the space is very restricted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, of which-- Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the construction of an odometer according to the present invention as well as the arrangement thereof with respect to the vehicle axle.

Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective the manner in which the odometer may be mounted in the oil container of an axle box.

Fig. 3 shows a central longitudinal sectional elevation of the axle box with oil container and registering mechanism mounted therein.

Fig. 4 shows a transverse sectional elevation of the axle box taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 show another form of odometers according to our invention adapted to be used in connection with roller bearings for high speed 0 railway vehicles, in which Fig. 5 shows a central longitudinal sectional elevation of an axle box with such modified odometer.

Fig. 6 represents a front elevation of the 40 odometer viewed in the direction of the axle, and

Fig. '7 represents, partly in sectional elevation, the arrangement of the odometer in the bearing cover.

Referring to Fig. 1, I denotes the axle of a rail- 45 way vehicle. A disk 2 is eccentrically secured to the end of the axle by means of screws 3, the disk having a greater diameter than that of the axle l. A rocking frame I pivotally mounted at 31 carries two oppositely directed lever arms 5 and 50 6 of which 5 carries a contact pin 4 engaging the periphery of disk 2. Parallel to and spaced from arm 6 another arm 8 is provided on rocking frame I in which two arms an operating pin 9 is mounted, which carries at its end a spring controlled 55 feeding pawl l0. The latter is under the influence of the spring II to hold the pawl H1 in engagement with the teeth I 2 of a ratchet wheel I3.

A tension spring I4 is attached to rocking frame 1 so that pin 4 is continuously pressed against the periphery of disk 2. A ratchet wheel l5 engaged 5 by the holding pawl I1 is mounted on the same shaft l8 with ratchet wheel l3. The pitch of ratchet wheel I5 is so chosen that it amounts to a fraction of the pitch of that of ratchet wheel l3.

In this manner the influence of changes of posi- 10 tion of the pawl I0 with respect to the ratchet wheel I3 is compensated for without the necessity of increasing considerably the stroke of the pawl Hi. If the pitch of the ratchet wheel l5 amounts to half the pitch of the ratchet wheel I3 5 the stroke of the pawl actuating the ratchet wheel l3 must be made somewhat more than 50% greater than the circular pitch of the ratchet wheel l3. If the pitch of the ratchet wheel I5 amounts to /3 of that of the ratchet wheel I3 20 the pawl stroke must be somewhat more than 33% greater than the pitch of the ratchet wheel iii.

The shaft of ratchet wheels l5 and I3 carries at one end a worm 19. This worm meshes with a worm-wheel 20 which drives the shafts 21 and 28 of two dial wheels 29 and 30 through the gears 2|, 22, 23 and 24.

The operation of the above-described device is such that upon the rotation of the axle I in any direction the operating pin 4 being constantly pressed against the periphery of the eccentric 2, causing the arms 5 and 6 to rock about their pivot 3| in a, counter-clockwise direction and thus spring-biased pawl ID to actuate the ratchet wheel l3. After the forward motion of the ratchet wheel l3 arms 5 and 6 upon the further rotation of the axle l are automatically retracted to their initial positions by the spring [4, whereby a continuous step-by-step movement of the ratchet wheel I3 is attained.

The arrangement of the eccentric 2 at the end of the axle ensures a particularly favorable installation of the registering mechanism. The latter is disposed beneath the axle-journal in the oil container which is inserted in the lower part of the axle box of the vehicle and in which the oil is stored up for lubricating the axle box by means of wicks or any other suitable means.

This arrangement presents first of all the particular advantage that the register may be easily removed together with the oil container from the axle box after the removal of the cover.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows the installation of the above-described arrangement of a registering mechanism in the oil container. w

Referring to Fig. 2, 32 denotes the oil-container which is so dimensioned with respect to the dimensions of the axle box that it may be inserted in the lower part of the axle box. The container 32 has a trough 33 at its front end, through which the container is charged with oil after opening a flap arranged on the axle box cover. The abovedescribed register with gearing as indicated at 34 is located in the trough, the individual gear parts of the registering mechanism being arranged in a partly closed frame 35. 4 denotes the operating pin cooperating with the eccentric 2 shown in Fig. 1 for actuating the register. The register is held in position by means of a stirrup-shaped member 36 to which the frame 35 of the register is secured by screws, rivets or any other suitable fastening means. The ends of member 36 protrude laterally beyond trough 33 and are attached to brackets 38, welded or riveted to the front end of the oil container; if desired, member 36 may be supported on the sides of the trough. The register may also be directly or indirectly secured to the trough itself. The frame 35 of the register 34 is further provided with a cover plate 39 provided only above the dial wheels 29 and 30 with openings through which the register may be read.

The second advantage, due to this improved construction is, that the register is arranged within the trough in such a manner that the gears are immersed in the oil in the container, thus ensuring a continuous and effective lubrication of the same. A further advantage of this con struction is that the oil acts as a shock-absorbing and damping means for the individual elements of the register. This is as tests have shown highly important for the operation of odometers. Besides through this arrangement the life of the device is considerably extended.

The arrangement of the register in the trough has further the particular advantage that when renewing the oil in the container the oil must be poured through the register, so that in case dirt and other foreign matter should adhere to the parts of the register this is rinsed out simultaneously with the refilling of the container.

Fig. 3 shows in longitudinal sectional elevation and Fig. 4 in transverse sectional elevation the axle box of a railway vehicle in which a register designed according to the invention is mounted. 4| denotes the axle box, 42 the removably attached cover provided with a projecting part to conform to the trough 33 of the oil container 32. 43 is the lubricating oil for the vehicle axle in which oil all important gear parts of the odometer are immersed. The register lies immediately adjacent to the hinged cover (not shown in Fig. 3) so as to permit a reading of the register.

How advantageous the installation of the registering mechanism according to the invention is will be readily apparent from Figs. 3 and 4.

The details of the described device may, if desired, be modified. For instance, instead of the eccentric 2 a connecting rod drive may be also provided in which a rod connects the operating pin 4 with an eccentric bolt at one end of the axle.

The aforedescribed arrangement of odometers may be adopted for roller bearings.

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 show a further modification of our invention in which roller bearings are used in connection with an odometer.

Referring to Fig. 5, 5!! denotes the axle box, 5| the axle which is mounted within the box in roller bearings 52, 53. The roller bearings are held in position on the conical surface 51 of the axle 5| and by means of a threaded ring 54 as well as by the conical ring 55 serving at the same time as seat for the outer bearing 52. 58 is a locking strip for ring 55 which is disposed between the extensions 59 of the threaded ring 54 and secured to the end of the axle by means of the screws 60. A lock plate 6| whose edge is so bent as to prevent the screws 60 from loosening is placed under these screws. Furthermore, the lock plate 6| has in its central portion a bent strip 62 which serves to drive the crank lever 63 of the odometer 64.

The odometer 64 is arranged within the enlargement 65 of the particularly designed bearing cover 66 of the roller bearing. The odometer 64 is supported by reinforcing ribs 61, provided within the enlargment 65.

The odometer is characterized by the fact that the crank arm 63 for actuating the odometer is secured to a particular intermediate shaft 68. The latter carries a worm 69 meshing with a worm wheel 10. An eccentric H is secured to the worm wheel 10. The operating lever 12 engages the eccentric H and is so designed that it is supported in an eye of the eccentric H. The operating lever 12 has at the lower end thereof a pawl 13 which may mesh with the ratchet wheel 14. In order to maintain the pawl lever continuously in engagement with the ratchet wheel 14 a spring 15 is provided which exerts a corresponding torque on the operating lever 12. Furthermore a resilient pawl 15 engages the ratchet wheel 14 so as to prevent the ratchet wheel from run-- ning back. The shaft 18 of the ratchet wheel- I4 is connected with an auxiliary shaft 8| through bevel gears 19 and 8D, the auxiliary shaft 8| driving the drum type register 83 through a worm, drive 82. The auxiliary shaft 8| and the register are so arranged that the register 83 lies abovethe operating lever, the ratchet wheel and the intermediate shaft 64.

The enlargement 65 of the box cover is also,

in this case filled up with a lubricant (greaser 81' which at the same time serves to lubricate theroller bearings 52, 53. Further in the cover 66 an aperture 85 is provided which may be closed by a transparent plate 86 to permit reading of the register. larly suitable for high speeds. By the use of an intermediate gear 69, 10 ahead of the eccentric actuating the operating lever the number of the eccentric strokes is considerably reduced.

It is to be understood that various modifications of the above-described arrangements may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For instance, in the case of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 other holding means capable of holding the ratchet wheel [3 in a greater number of positions than the number of the ratchet wheel teeth may be employed instead of the pawl l1 cooperating with ratchet-wheel l5.

We claim as our invention:

1. An odometer for railway vehicles, comprising in combination with an axle and a bearing casing therefor, containing a lubricant for said axle, a registering mechanism and a driving gear associated with said registering mechanism and cooperating with said axle, said mechanism and said gear being secured in said casing below the level of the lubricant, whereby the latter acts as a damping element for the operating elements of said gear and said registering mechanism.

2. An odometer for railway vehicles, comprising in combination with an axle and a bearing The last-described bearing is particu-- casing therefor, having associated with it a removable container adapted to be filled with lubricant for said axle, and being provided with a trough extension at its front end, a registering mechanism, an operating gear associated with said registering mechanism and adapted to cooperate with said axle, said registering mechanism and said gear being arranged in said trough below the level of the lubricant, whereby the latter acts as a damping element for the operating elements of said gear and said registering mechanism, and means for attaching said registering mechanism and said gear to said container.

3. In an odometer for railway vehicles in combination with a vehicle axle and a bearing casing therefore adapted to be" filled with a lubricant for said axle and being provided with an inlet trough extension at its front end, a registering mechanism, an operating gear associated with said registering mechanism and adapted to cooperate with said axle, said registering mechanism and said gear being secured in said trough below the level of the lubricant, whereby the latter acts normally as a damping medium for the operating elements of said gear and said registering mechanism and as a flushing medium therefor when the lubricant is renewed through said trough.

PAUL PASCHEN. GEORG MOHR. 

